Eye Care

Eye Screening 
Eye screening is a quick, general test to check for obvious vision or eye problems. It does not diagnose an eye condition and should not replace a comprehensive eye exam. 
 
What is an Eye Exam
 
Eye exam, also known as an eye test, is a series of tests performed to assess your vision and eye health. Eye exams are primarily carried out by Optometrists or Ophthalmologists who have specialised training in the detection and treatment of eye problems. You may need eye exams more frequently if you have certain medical conditions.

​

What happens at an eye test or exam?
During an eye exam, the Optometrist will check the health of your eyes and look for signs of other medical conditions. Your eye doctor will ask about your medical history and any vision problems you have been experiencing or any family members with existing eye conditions. 

It is important to have your eyes checked at least once every year as your eyes can indicate signs of other general health problems like hypertension and diabetes. An eye exam can detect diabetes before other symptoms appear and your eye doctor can look for diabetic retinopathy, which is a damage to the blood vessels in the retina. While Optometrists can correct vision problems with glasses or contact lenses, Ophthalmologists can treat eye diseases with medication and/or surgery. 
 
This information is brought to you by EZINNE ANTHONIA & GODWIN OKECHUKWU FOUNDATION as part of the foundation’s community outreach. In honour of our beloved Dad and Mom, the Foundation will sponsor 20 people for Eye Check and follow up. It is our belief that proper medical care can elongate the life and wellbeing of our loved ones. If we did not give our parents proper medical care, they may not have lived as long as they did. Our father had glaucoma, and he lived a good quality life until God called him. This is why we (their children) are reaching out to others in their honour and memory. 
 
Why should I have an eye test?
Eyes can be affected by several conditions which may be picked up early through an eye test, giving it less chance of affecting your vision. Regular eye tests can detect and diagnose serious eye problems in the early stages, such as glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration. 
 
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a chronic eye disease that causes vision loss due to damage to the optic nerve that transmits visual information from the eye to the brain. If left untreated, glaucoma can cause blindness. Glaucoma is caused by increased pressure in the eye, which can be due to an abnormality in the eye's drainage system. This pressure damages the optic nerve and can lead to visual field loss. The deterioration in vision is usually gradual and not noticeable, however, regular eye examinations can help with early detection. Once detected, glaucoma can be treated to prevent or delay further vision damage. While there is no cure for glaucoma, early treatment can often stop the damage and protect your vision. Glaucoma can be treated with prescription eye drops, oral medicines, laser treatment, and surgery, or a combination of approaches. 
 
Cataracts
A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye. It occurs when protein in the lens breaks down and clump together, preventing light from passing clearly through the lens. Surgery is the only effective way to remove a cataract. Cataracts are treated by removing the cloudy lens of the eye with surgery. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in adults worldwide and develop mostly in older people, but younger people can also get cataracts. There are many types of cataracts, including age-related, congenital, secondary, and traumatic cataract. Cataracts can occur in one or both eyes.
 
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD): 
AMD is a chronic, painless eye disease associated with ageing that causes a person to lose central vision. It happens when a part of the retina called the macula is damaged. AMD causes blurred vision and loss of vision in the middle of what you would normally see. You may find it hard to drive, to read and to see people’s faces. In severe cases a person with AMD may become legally blind. 
 
There are two main types of Age-related Macular Degeneration :
Dry AMD — this is the most common type of AMD and is caused by the gradual loss of cells in the retina. It develops slowly and causes gradual vision loss.
Wet AMD — most serious type of AMD. It occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow into your macula and leak blood and fluid thereby leading to rapid loss of central vision. Age-related Macular Degeneration is more common in people aged 50 years or older.